Projectile for smooth barrel hunting guns or rifles with auxiliary wad provided with helical side tabs

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a projectile for smooth barrel hunting guns or rifles. The projectile is inserted into a cartridge housing the charge, the priming system and sealing wad of limited thickness. The projectile comprises a substantially spherical body made of lead or other suitable material and is provided in its lower section with a flat chamfered base. The spherical projectile includes an internal cavity connected to an auxiliary wad, cylindrical in shape and containing helical tabs formed by grooves. The diameter of the projectile and the auxiliary wad correspond to the internal diameter of the cartridge which houses the projectile.

United States Patent 1191 Pontoriero 1 Jan. 30, 1973 s41 PROJECTILE FOR SMOOTH BARREL 2,4l4,863 1 1947 Foster ..l02/38 x HUNTING GUNS 0R RIFLES, WITH 3,058,420 11 1962 Tanner et al ..l02/38 3,074,344 l/l963 Devaux ..l02/9l X agigk L s lg E lpAgg WITH 3,400,661 9/1968 Coon et al. .Q ..l02/93 [76] Inventor: Emanuele Pontoriero, Aereoporto, Primary Examiner-Samuel Engle pameneria, Italy Atl0rneyStaas, Halsey & Gable [22] Filed: Oct. 28, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl. No.: 84,560 The invention concerns a projectile for smooth barrel hunting guns or rifles. The projectile is inserted into a cartridge housing the charge, the priming system and [30] Fore'gn Apphcatmn Pnomy Data sealing wad of limited thickness. The projectile com- Oct. 28. I969 ltaly ..60009 A/69 prises a Substantially Spherical y made of lead or other suitable material and is provided in its lower sec- [52] U Cl 102/38 102/92 4 102/93 tion with a flat chamfered base. The spherical projec- 102/95 tile includes an internal cavity connected to an auxilia- 51 l t Cl F42, 7/00 ry wad, cylindrical in shape and containing helical tabs 1 formed by grooves The diamaer ofthevpmjectil and [58] held of Search the auxiliary wad correspond to the internal diameter of the cartridge which houses the projectile. [56] References Cited 4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure UNITED STATES PATENTS 926,43l l2/l97l Luger ..lO2/9l X PATENTEDJAH 30 ms lNVENTCR EMANUELE PONTORIERO PROJECTILE FOR SMOOTH BARREL HUNTING GUNS OR RIFLES, WITH AUXILIARY WAD PROVIDED WITH HELICAL SIDE TABS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional projectiles are substantially cylindrical in shape and are provided with cone-shaped noses. Such projectiles in flight modify their attitude because of irregularity in weight distribution and imperfection in construction. On impact, such projectiles lose their capacity of penetration since the projectiles present themselves in an overturned position with respect to the target. The aforedescribed problem is most frequent in conventional projectiles having substantially cylindrical configurations and provided with cone-shaped noses. Such projectiles strike targets with their cylindrical axes perpendicular to the impact surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION THe present invention concerns a projectile for use in smooth barrel hunting guns and which is inserted into a cartridge containing the propulsion charge and a sealing disc wad of compressed felt. The projectile consists of a lead body being substantially spherical in configuration chamfered at the bottom and including an internal cavity substantially frusto-conical in configuration within which the tang of an auxiliary wad is located. The auxiliary wad is generally cylindrical in configuration and provided on the outer surface with helical grooves defining at their intersection helical tabs inclined in the direction of movement.

The projectile of the present invention minimizes deviation of trajectory from the sighting line while insuring an impact attitude permitting maximum penetration.

First, as the projectile of the present invention is substantially spherical in configuration changes in attitude are avoided. Second, as the projectile is associated with an auxiliary wad provided with helical tabs, a revolving movement is imparted to the projectile such that displacements in the distribution of the weight of the projectile cannot cause significant deviation in the sighting line or trajectory, i.e., rotation of the projectile about itself automatically compensates for banking or drift.

Further, the internal cavity of the projectile, in addition to housing the tang of the wad, also effects lightening of the lead projectile, permitting the blasting charge to be increased resulting in long-range, precision shots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The single FIGURE is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cartridge case, the conventional powder charge and wad and the improved projectile and auxiliary wad construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The cartridge case, conventional in construction, is designated generally by reference numeral 1 and contains powder charge 2 and conventional wad 3.

The projectile, designated by reference numeral 4, is made of lead or other conventional alloys and is substantially spherical in configuration terminating in a chamfered base 4a perpendicular to axis X-X of the projectile and the cartridge. It is to be understood that the diameter of the projectile 4 is sized to the caliber of the arm for which it is intended to be used. Within projectile 4 is located a cavity 4b substantially frusto-conical in configuration and designed to lighten the weight of the projectile while forming a housing to receive the tang 5 of an auxiliary wad 6 which is manufactured by conventional molding and milling operations employing plastics or other suitable materials.

Wad or vane member 6 is generally cylindrical in configuration and is provided outwardly with helical grooves defining outwardly helical tabs 6a, the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. Wad 6 is provided at its lower section with cavity 6b. As will be apparent, the cavity 4b and the tang 5 of the wad 6 have smooth surfaces while wad 6 adheres to the projectile 4 by virtue of friction between the tang 5 and the housing seat 4b. The pressure of the bursting gas acts on the bottom base of wad 6 through the body of sealing wad 3, therefore, the pressure at the moment of firing transforms effectively the wad 6 and the projectile 4 into a single body.

During the first phase of launching, i.e., from the moment at which the projectile moves away from The cartridge chamber to exit from the gun barrel, normal thrust effects are experienced due to expansion of the combustion. Thereafter, during the second stage in which the projectile 4 leaves the valve, the projectile 4 and auxiliary wad 6 and sealing wad 3 continue to act as a single body and are subjected to the action of two unequal and opposing forces, i.e., the resistance of the air acting on the front portion of the projectile 4 and the force exerted by the gases upon the back portion of the sealing wad 3. The thrust forces prevail propelling forward the combined projectile 4 and wads 6 and 3. At this moment, air is flowing over the sides of the projectile 4, and, therefore, over the sides of the auxiliary wad 6 through helical tabs 6a imparting to the combined projectile 4 and auxiliary wad 6 a rotating movement. As the thrust force diminishes and eventually terminates, the surrounding air causes disjunction of the wads 6 and 3 from the projectile 4. Thereafter, the projectile 4 continues, because of inertial forces, its rotational movement, compensating for any unbalanced defects that may be present. Therefore, substantial deviation from the sighting line is avoided.

Further, by reducing the weight of the projectile 4 a larger powder charge 2 may be employed while also permitting greater latitudes in the selection of the quality of powder, the type of primer or cartridge case and the type of wadding. All this can be accomplished without endangering the pressure resistance of the rifle andwithout modifying its recoil force.

The auxiliary wad 6 is of such a height so as to substitute for a stretch corresponding to approximately two-thirds of the conventional wad 3, which is therefore smaller and can accomplish only the sealing action in respect to gases necessary to improve the effect of the bursting action.

In the claims:

1. A projectile system for smooth bore firearms, comprising:

a cartridge housing, charging, priming and sealing means;

3 4 a projectile substantially spherical in configuration said sealing means including a wad disposed rearterminating at the bottom in a flat chamfered base wardly of said vane member. and including imemal i y 2. A projectile system as in claim 1, said cavity within a detachable membel: {ncluqlmg E said projectile being substantially frusto-conical in conthereof means disposed within said cavity of said 5 figuration while said upper portion of Said vane projectile for releaseably attaching said projectile member includes an axial tang.

and vane member, said vane member being generally cylindrical in configuration and including helical grooves in the surface thereof defining outwardly helical tabs against which the air strikes to impart rotational movement to said projectile and said vane member and to release said projectile from said vane member;

3. A projectile system as in claim 1, said vane member being plastic material.

4. A projectile system as in claim 1, said vane member including an axial cavity open at the bottom of said vane member. 

1. A projectile system for smooth bore firearms, comprising: a cartridge housing, charging, priming and sealing means; a projectile substantially spherical in configuration terminating at the bottom in a flat chamfered base and including an internal cavity; a detachable vane member including at an end thereof means disposed within said cavity of said projectile for releaseably attaching said projectile and vane member, said vane member being generally cylindrical in configuration and including helical grooves in the surface thereof defining outwardly helical tabs against which the air strikes to impart rotational movement to said projectile and sAid vane member and to release said projectile from said vane member; said sealing means including a wad disposed rearwardly of said vane member.
 1. A projectile system for smooth bore firearms, comprising: a cartridge housing, charging, priming and sealing means; a projectile substantially spherical in configuration terminating at the bottom in a flat chamfered base and including an internal cavity; a detachable vane member including at an end thereof means disposed within said cavity of said projectile for releaseably attaching said projectile and vane member, said vane member being generally cylindrical in configuration and including helical grooves in the surface thereof defining outwardly helical tabs against which the air strikes to impart rotational movement to said projectile and sAid vane member and to release said projectile from said vane member; said sealing means including a wad disposed rearwardly of said vane member.
 2. A projectile system as in claim 1, said cavity within said projectile being substantially frusto-conical in configuration while said upper portion of said vane member includes an axial tang.
 3. A projectile system as in claim 1, said vane member being plastic material. 